Tough day for Irish as Thitikul leads AIG Women's Open

Leona Maguire best of Irish at two-over-par at Royal Lytham and St Annes

Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand before putting a birdie on the 15th during day one of the AIG Women's Open 2026 at Royal Lytham & St Annes. Picture:  Peter Byrne/PA

Leona Maguire endured a tough opening round at the final women's major of the year.

The Cavan star had a steady opening at the AIG Women's Open and was one-under after a birdie on the par 5 sixth at Royal Lytham and St Annes. However, a bogey immediately followed and three further bogeys on the back 9, slightly offset by a birdie at the last, left Maguire on two over, nine shots behind the leaders.

Jeeno Thitikul leads the way, the 23-year-old from Thailand who is still seeking a first major title hitting seven birdies in a flawless seven-under 64.

Lottie Woad and Charley Hull lead British hopes. Woad, who won the Women's Irish Open as an amateur last year, carded a bogey-free, two-under-par 69 with a birdie on the par-five sixth and a monster putt for a two on the 12th.

It could have been even better, but her eagle putt at six rolled all the way around the hole and lipped out.

“There’s not many birdie opportunities on this course, to be honest, so I think you’ve got to play the par fives pretty aggressively,” Woad said on Sky Sports.

“(The 12th) was great. There were so many fans out there, especially teeing off early, and that one was definitely a bonus, and kind of made up for some of that. Everyone went pretty crazy, so it was great.” 

Hull briefly moved to three under after holing from off the green on the 15th, but the 30-year-old from Kettering undid that good work by finding the front bunker on the next to slip back to two under.

Ominously, Ryu Hae-ran is two back after a draining a 15-footer on the last for a five-under 66.

The Korean, 25, is looking for a third straight major title having won the Women’s PGA and the Evian Championship.

“Yeah, I’m just much better, calmer before a major so that’s why these days my score is pretty low,” she said.

“I was so amazed, and I asked my caddie why I’m playing well this week. I think it’s because I’m more calm and enjoying the golf more, that’s why these days my golf is going pretty well.” 

Japan’s Shiho Kuwaki is joint second on five under but world number one Nelly Korda, who like Ryu is looking for a third major win this year, hit four bogeys in an underwhelming 73.

Spanish 20-year-old Paula Martin Sampedro needed a par at the last to tie the amateur record round – but bogeyed it for a 69.

Lauren Walsh and Anna Foster both had disappointing days, sitting at +4 and +5 respectively, leaving both Irish women with work to do to make the cut.